Adam Johnson denies football career fear prevented early guilty plea

Adam Johnson has denied that worries about losing his football career and salary prevented him from entering an earlier guilty plea to grooming and kissing a 15-year-old girl.

Johnson previously denied all four charges against him but pleaded guilty to the two offences on the first day the case was listed for trial at Bradford Crown Court.

The 28-year-old former Sunderland and England winger told the court he was following advice and denied it was because a guilty plea could end his career.